Derry beat Westmeath to claim Division 2 honours
Allianz Football League Division 2 Final:
Westmeath 0-15 Derry 1-18
Derry were crowned Allianz Football League Division 2 champions after a six-point win over Westmeath in a very open game at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.
Brian McIver’s side scored 1-3 without reply in added time to seal a very impressive win and a national title for the Oak Leafers for the first time since 2008, when they claimed honours in the elite tier of the league.
Derry finished both halves very strongly, hitting three points in a row at the end of the first 35 minutes to draw level at 0-10 to 0-10 at the break, before Emmet McGuckin made the difference at the very end, scoring 1-1 in added time to give his side the victory.
The Oak Leafers, who had 10 different scorers, made the early running but lost their way in the second quarter. Westmeath hit six points in a row at one stage in the first half to lead by 0-10 to 0-7 before Derry rallied to draw level at half-time.
The third quarter was very disappointing, but the arrival of Dessie Dolan with 20 minutes left jolted Westmeath – and indeed the game as a whole – back into life, the veteran Garrycastle man scoring three points from play in the closing stages.
However, Derry showed the greater hunger when the game was still there to be won. James Kielt had a very impressive outing, scoring four excellent points from play, although McGuckin’s late flourish was the match-winning contribution.
Derry opened up a 0-4 to 0-0 lead inside the opening seven minutes. Seán Leo McGoldrick got the first point of the game after some early wides from both teams, but it was Derry full-forward Eoin Bradley who made the greatest impact on the game in the early stages. His darting runs from full-forward provided a great outlet for Derry who dominated the middle third in the first quarter.
John Heslin got Westmeath off the mark after 10 minutes, and Ger Egan added their second, when he finished a fine move that started in their own full-back line after a Derry attack broke down. Bradley responded with another trademark score, turning his marker, Kevin Maguire, and clipping over a point to nudge Derry 0-6 to 0-2 clear.
However, at around the midway point of the first half, Westmeath dropped more men back and began to play on the break. Heslin, who has been the Lake County’s key player this spring, came into the game and his free in the 19th minute set his side on a remarkable scoring burst.
In 12 minutes, Pat Flanagan’s men hit eight points to Derry’s one to lead by 0-10 to 0-7 just before the break. Westmeath were bright in attack, with Callum McCormack, Egan and Heslin all scoring some fine points.
When Denis Glennon clipped over his first score of the afternoon in the 31st minute, Westmeath were three points to the good with Derry struggling badly to break down a very compact defence.
Brian McIver’s side, after struggling for a time with their long-range shooting, rediscovered their edge in the final minutes of the half. James Kielt hit his second of that little spell, with Raymond Wilkinson also getting on the mark in between, to draw Derry level at 0-10 to 0-10 in added time.
Although Westmeath must have been disappointed to let a tidy lead slip at the end of a half in which they did so well to come back into the game and dominate, at least they had the consolation of not being behind at the break for the first time in this year’s Allianz League.
They were ahead again inside a minute of the restart, Glennon hitting his second of the game. A lengthy break because of an injury to Derry forward Wilkinson interrupted the flow of what was a very lively encounter to that point.
Daniel Heavron had equalised for Derry before they had an excellent goal chance. Benny Heron powered through on goal and offloaded to sub Coilín Devlin, but his shot was deflected out for a 45, which Heron slotted over.
Westmeath brought on Dessie Dolan after 52 minutes, as they have done throughout the campaign, and the former All Star had an immediate impact, kicking two points from play within five minutes of his arrival to edge his side back into the lead.
After a very stale third quarter, new life was breathed into the game and Derry had yet another goal chance, but this time Gerard O’Kane blazed over after an enterprising run. James Kielt then slotted over his third classy point and the lead had changed yet again in the 62nd minute. Westmeath were level a minute from the end of normal time when Heslin sent over a free from a tight angle after Dolan had grabbed hit his third just before that.
However, Derry finally managed to shake off their opponents’ challenge with a late burst of 1-3 in added time. Ryan Bell and the impressive Kielt nudged them ahead with scores from play before sub McGuckian snaffled the only goal of the game in the 73rd minute, mopping up the loose ball and hitting the net after Westmeath goalkeeper Gary Connaughton has dropped a high ball. McGuckian wrapped up the win with another score right at the death.
Westmeath Scorers: J Heslin 0-5 (0-4f), G Egan 0-2, C McCormack 0-2, C Curley 0-1, D Glennon 0-2, D Dolan 0-3.
Derry Scorers: SL McGoldrick 0-1, E Bradley 0-4 (0-2f), R Bell 0-2 (0-1f), E Lynn 0-1, J Kielt 0-4, R Wilkinson 0-1, D Heavron 0-1, B Heron 0-1 (45), G O’Kane 0-1, E McGuckin 1-1, C McFaul 0-1.
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; M McCallion, J Gaffey, K Maguire; D Harte, P Sharry, J Dolan; D Duffy, J Heslin; G Egan, C McCormack, K Martin; D Corroon, C Curley, D Glennon. Subs: Dessie Dolan for Martin (52), K Gavin for McCallon (67), Damian Dolan for Corroon (69), L Smith for Curley (72).
DERRY: E McNicholl; A McAlynn, C McKaigue, G O’Kane; C Kielt, M Lynch (capt), SL McGoldrick; Patsy Bradley, R Bell; D Heavron, J Kielt, E Lynn; B Heron, E Bradley, R Wilkinson. Subs: C Devlin for Wilkinson (42), C McFaul for Heavron, E McGuckin for Bradley (57), L Kennedy for Heron (74).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).
